Dough-cutter.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. ZINN,.OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DOUGH-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,290, datedSeptember 16, 1902. Application filed May 26,1902. Serial No. 108,886.(No model.)

To ztZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. ZINN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and Stateof Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Dough-Cutter, and I dodeclare the following to-be a clear, full, and exact descriptionthereof, attention being called to the accompanyingdrawings, with thereference-numerals marked thereon, which form also a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in dough-cutters, which areimplements used for cutting out of fiat-rolled dough portions of thislatter preparatory to being baked. These flat pieces may be of variousshapes as to outline and more orless ornamentalas, for instance,star-shaped or simply round, as in the case of biscuits, ginger-snaps,850. Such implements consistgenerally of a short tube, the shape ofitsside in profile being such as to produce the shape to be cut. Thistube is grasped at one end-andwith its other open end pressed into theflat-rolled dough until the edge of the side has entirely passed throughthe same, cutting out a piece. therefrom corresponding to the shape ofthe tube.

the piece of dough so cut out, which is presently caused to droptherefrom by shaking the implement. This method of removalisinconvenient andnot always reliable or successful where the doughadheres persistently.-

In such cases the removal isg'enerally accomplished by shaking theimplement more forcibly until the dough becomes loose. When finallyreleased under such circumstances, the contact succeeding itsaccelerated drop causes frequently the piece of dough to lose itsintended shape. To avoid such contingencies, as well as to accomplishthe quick and convenient removal of the dough with- The, I dough-cutteris now lifted, carrying with it tion, which latter is also illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, in a perspective View,shows my improved implement and the manner of its manipulation. Fig. 2is a vertical section of the same, the dough cut out having just beenexpelled. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, and Fig. 4 an under side view,of the preceding figure. Fig. 5 shows the movement mechanism and itssupporting-frame detached, the former being modified against theconstruction shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of theimplement, the same. provided with the mechanism shown in the precedingfigure.

The body of the implement shown is of cylindrical shape, and accordinglythe pieces of dough cut out by it are of circular outline. 10 is theside of this cylinder, the upper end of which is closed by a cap 11,preferably removable. The implement being of tin, the lower edge of itsside serves as a cutting edge when pressed into a plastic mass, likedough, for instance, and as shown at 12 in Fig. 1. In said figure apiece of dough has just been cut out, and the implement with said pieceof dough within is lifted preparatory to expelling the same. For suchpurpose I p'rovide an annular plunger 13 in shape of an open ring fittedwith its continuous outer edge all around against the inside of side 10and carried at the lower part of a rod 14, which is guided incross-pieces 15 15 of a frame, of which 16 16 are the uprights. Thisplunger is normallyheld elevated by means of a coilspring 17, encirclinga part of rod let near its upper end and bearing against the upper guide15 and against a projection at the upper end of said rod 14. As shown inFig. 2, this projection may be a pin 18, or, as shown in Fig. 5, it mayconsist of a nut 19. This plunger operates by being moved downwardlytoward the open end of the implement, thereby pushing out the piece ofdough 20 before it, as shown in Fig. 2. Chance of adherence to theplunger is avoided by the limited surface of the same, it being an openring, which comes in contact with the margin only of the dough cut out.The operation of the plunger is by a lateral push-rod 21, which extendsoutwardly through an opening 22 in the side 10. At its outer end it mayhave a push-button 23. It is also supported by one of the uprights 16 ofthe frame through which it passes. The motion of the push-rod may betransmitted to the plunger-rod by any suitable operative connection,which at the same time converts the direction of the motion.

As shown in Fig. 2, part of rod 14 forms a rack 24 and is engaged by asegmental pinion 25, pivoted at 26 to a cross-piece 27, supported on theuprights of the movement frame. This pinion is at the same time engagedat 28 by the inner end of rod 21. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, anangle-lever 29 is used, also pivoted at 26 to cross-piece 27 andconnected both to the push-rod and plunger-rod. The operation is thesame in both cases. Supporting members 15 15 and 27 might be secureddirectly to the inside of the implement without the use offrame-uprights 16. I prefer, however, to support the mechanism in anindependent frame, as shown, which admits a more convenient manufacture.The whole device, push-rod 21 excepted, is then introduced through theopen end of the body of the implement and suitably held in place bysolder or rivets. Push-rod 21 is afterward introduced through opening22.

I 30 represents openings to admit passage of air to prevent anyinterference or resistance thereby to the operation of the device.

By preference I have the annular plunger 13 and its rod 14 all in onepiece by bending the same, as shown most plainly in Fig. 4. The lowerpart of rod 14 below the lower support 15 is bent outwardly toward theside 10 of the implement and then bent around the inside of this latterto form annular plunger 13. The part connecting it with rod 14 isindicated by 31. Solder may be applied at 32. Wire is used for theseparts in the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

As-will be seen, the two manipulations of the implementthat is, thecutting out of the dough and the expelling of the cut-out piece mayrapidly follow one another without interfering with each other orwithout requiring a change in the position of the hand or re-formationof its grasp upon the implement. The latter is grasped, as shown in Fig.1, with one of the fingers upon the push-button. The entire hand byhearing downwardly does the cutting, and the finger does the expellingby moving asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. Spring 17 restores the plunger toits normal position. Access for any purpose may be readily had fromeither end by removing cap 11.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a dough-cutter, thecombination with the hollow body of the implement, the lower end ofwhich is open and the edge of the side of which around such open endconstitutes the cutting edge, of an annular plunger in shape of an openring fitted with its outer edge all around against the inside of thisside, a rod on which it is carried, means connecta spring to hold theplunger normally elevated and means to depress the same.

2. In a dough-cutter, the combination with the hollow body of theimplement, the lower end of which is open and the edge of the side ofwhich body around such open end constitutes the cutting edge, of aplunger fitted within this open end, a rod on which it is carried, meansto support and guide this rod in a manner to permit the plunger to moveto and from the open end of the body, a spring to hold the plungernormally elevated, a laterally-projecting push-rod passing through theside of the body and means to operatively connect its inner end-with theplunger-rod.

3. In a dough-cutter, the combination with the hollow body of theimplement, the lower end of which is open and the edge of the'side ofwhich body around such open end constitutes the cutting edge, of aplunger fitted to the inside of the body and supported and guidedtherein in a manner to permit it to move to and from the open end of thebody, a spring to hold the plunger normally elevated, a pushrod passingthrough the side of the body and with its outer end projecting therefromand means to operatively connect its inner end with the plunger so thatpressure on the pushrod depresses also the plunger.

4. In a dough-cutter, the combination with the hollow body of theimplement, the lower end of which is open and the edge of the side ofwhich body around such open end constitutes the cutting edge, of aplunger fitted within this open end, a rod on which it is carried, aframe consisting of upright members and cross-pieces and on which latterthe plunger-rod is supported and guided in amanner to permit the plungerto move to and from the open end of the body, a spring encircling theplungerrod and resting on the upper cross-piece of the frame, aprojection on the upper end of the plunger-rod against which the springalso bears, thereby holding the plunger normally elevated,meansoperatively engaging the plunger-rod for the purpose of moving the same,said means also supported on the frame members and alaterally-projecting push-rod for actuating these means.

5. In a dough-cutter, the combination with the hollow body of theimplement, the lower end of which is open'and the edge of the side ofwhich body around such open end constitutes the cutting edge, of aplunger fitted within this open end, a rod on which it is carried, meansto support and guide this rod in a manner to permit the plunger to moveto and fromthe open end of the body, a spring to hold the plungernormally elevated, a hit erally-projecting push-rod passing through theside of the body and an angle-lever which connects the inner end of thispush-rod with the plunger-rod.

6. In a dough-cutter, the combination with the hollow body of theimplement, the lower end of which is open and the edge of the side ofwhich bo'dy around such open end constitutes the cutting edge, of aplunger fitted within this open end, a rod on which it is carried, meansto support and guide this rod in a manner to permit the plunger to moveto and from the open end of the body, a spring to hold the plungernormally elevated, at laterally-projecting push-rod passing through theside of the body, a segmental pinion to which the inner end of thispush-rod connects and teeth on the plunger-rod in mesh with the teeth ofthe pinion.

7. In a. dough-cutter, the combination with the hollow body of theimplement, the lower end of which is open and the edge of the side ofwhich body around such open end consti- GEORGE F. ZINN.

Witnesses:

Q. SPENGEL, HENRY J. ZINN.

